Labyrinthine – an Itachi & Sakura story
By: M. Shiroi
Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
INTERLUDE
TALES FROM THE VILLAGE OF THE LEAF
UCHIHA SASUKE
"Sasuke," Naruto's voice woke him from his reverie.
"Hm," Sasuke said in acknowledgement, scanning the perimeter with his Sharingan as they neared the end of the Fire Country. Soon they would come upon picturesque vistas and rolling hills with massive roaring rivers running through them like veins. Sasuke always enjoyed their brief stints in the River Country.
"I need advice," Naruto mumbled.
Sasuke nearly did a double-take.
"What?" he said.
"You heard me," Naruto snapped, a blush coloring his cheeks. He looked uncomfortable, even for Naruto.
"I meant what do you need advice on?" Sasuke clarified, adding a soft 'usuratonkachi' under his breath.
Naruto was silent for a long moment. "Girls."
Instinctively, Sasuke looked up for any signs that the world was about to end. Finding none, he turned his gaze back to Naruto, wordlessly signaling for him to continue. Naruto scrunched up his tomato-red face, a clear sign he was struggling with finding the right words to say. "Out with it," Sasuke said impatiently.
"How do you know when you're… eh… how to say this…"
Silently, Sasuke pleaded for Naruto not to ask anything related to the birds and the bees. He himself had an extremely uncomfortable conversation with his older brother only a few years earlier and he was disinclined to repeat that—ever.
"In love?" Naruto squeaked.
Deep inside of him, Sasuke wished for anyone else to have been present for this. Anyone. Sakura, Kakashi, even Itachi would do a much better job at this than he currently was and Sasuke hadn't even gotten started. "Why?"
"Why do you think?" Naruto sighed.
The blond eyed him from the corner of his eye. "I asked Hinata-chan out."
"About time."
"Thanks," Naruto shot back before pausing, scratching his cheek. "The thing is… Hinata really loves me."
Sasuke said nothing. Konoha was located in the Fire Country, he was an Uchiha and Hinata was in love with Naruto. Simple facts.
"But I'm not sure… if I love-love her, you know."
Sasuke remained silent for the longest time as he pondered over the mission in front of him. How to explain to someone else what it feels like to be in love with someone? A flash of her smile came to mind, but he immediately tucked it away to the farthest reaches of his mind.
"How… how," he began, before gritting his teeth. 'How, how… Man up, Sasuke.'
"How do you feel around her?" There, he said it, never mind the fact that his entire face felt like it was burning up. This was not his forte.
"I dunno," Naruto shrugged, mulling it over. "Like… We have a good time and she listens to everything I have to say and I want to help her with the things she needs help with… but how is that different from a friendship? Apart from the fact that she is really pretty."
"Have you kissed?"
"No!" Naruto said, a distinct hint of panic in his voice before he narrowed his eyes and looked at Sasuke. "Why? Have you ever kissed a girl?"
There was a part of him, one that he would never admit to, that made a fist in the small victory he had over Naruto. Another, much larger part of him, was wondering how to break the news to the blond who stared at him so innocently that it felt like he was talking to genin Naruto all over again. "I have."
Naruto mumbled something under his breath, low enough for Sasuke not to hear, but the Sharingan relayed the insults to his brain perfectly anyway, causing Sasuke to glare at him.
"Have you… ever done more?"
"Have sex? Yes," Sasuke replied, taking perverse pleasure in seeing Naruto's head implode. 'Suits you right, usuratonkachi.'
"What?" Naruto shrieked, turning fully to him. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, silently warning his best friend for the incoming tree which Naruto barely managed to avoid. "Fuck," the blond said. "You're lying."
"Naruto. Are you attracted to Hinata?" Sasuke asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"Did I mention she's really pretty?"
"You can admire someone for their looks or be genuinely attracted to them," Sasuke said, praying to whatever gods were out there that nobody was listening in on this conversation and Naruto would have the good grace to keep this talk between the two of them. "But if you're attracted to her, you'll want to touch her, hold her. Kiss her. Touch her hair, make her smile and keep her safe." And in the privacy of his own mind, he added: And fuck her until she can't stand anymore.
Naruto turned serious, blue eyes darting over him. "Sasuke," he said earnestly.
"What?"
"Tell me about her."
"There's not much to tell."
"What does she look like?"
How did he get roped into this? "She has dark hair and brown eyes. She's a civilian."
"Are you in love?"
'Yes. But not with her.'
"No."
"Oh."
A silence stretched between the two of them as the forest thinned out around them and made way for an open landscape for as far as they could see. Nearby some deer grazed and leapt out of the way as they jumped down from the last trees and began their sprint to Sand.
HARUNO SAKURA
"Sakura-san!" Hinata said in greeting, catching her breath as she sat down across from Sakura. "I'm so sorry. We were debriefing, but it took us a while to wake the Fifth from a nap…"
Sakura, extremely hung-over herself, waved a hand. "It's fine Hinata." Happily, she looked up as the waiter walked up to the table, laying down her order of tempura and rice. Though her mouth watered, Sakura politely waited for Hinata to order and for the Hyuuga to tell her it was fine for Sakura to eat without her.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Sakura asked after swallowing the first bite. "Don't tell me. Is it Naruto? I've got a new move I can test out on him."
"Oh no, it's nothing like that," Hinata said, raising her hands. She folded her hands over each other on the table, fingertips nervously picking at a loose wooden chip. "I was just wondering how you are doing… Naruto-kun told me you're working on Wood release."
"That idiot," Sakura said, chomping on a bit of fried sweet potato. "I told him I wanted it to be a surprise."
"I haven't told anyone!" Hinata immediately spoke.
"I'm not blaming you," Sakura laughed. "Though, I can imagine he was… enthusiastic as always." She took a gulp of her tea. "I'm doing fine. I've almost mastered three Wood release techniques and I'm continuing my training sessions. Why do you ask?"
"Well… Kurenai-sensei is pregnant," Hinata breathed, lifting her pearly eyes to Sakura's. "She'll be retiring from being our jounin sensei for the remainder of her pregnancy and at least the first year… if she ever returns."
"Oh…" Sakura had known Kurenai was pregnant, Ino told her as much. It was Asuma's child, which only made the whole situation even more bittersweet. With everything that went on, Kakashi and Itachi hunting Kakuzu and Hidan down, the new mission she had gotten from Tsunade and the fact that Naruto and Sasuke were off to the Wind country by themselves, Sakura hadn't thought about the ramifications for Team 8.
"I don't want to be left behind," Hinata said, balling her fists. A determination set into her clear eyes that Sakura hadn't seen since their first chuunin exams. "Kiba-kun and Shino-kun are both amazing… and they're so strong and creating new jutsu all the time. But I'm not moving forward and feel like I'm not talented."
"Isn't that what drew you to Naruto in the first place?" Sakura asked gently. "Because he wouldn't ever give up, despite the rest of us, minus you, thinking he was a born loser?"
"Yes," Hinata replied. "I am not giving up either. But I think… it's time for me to ask someone for help."
Sakura hummed enthusiastically. "So, you're looking for a new teacher? Let's see… Your taijutsu is highly specialized so having a Hyuuga help you there would probably be best. But Lee-san would be incredibly helpful in both speed and technique…" She tapped her lip in consideration but ceased as Hinata reached across the table to lay a hand over her arm.
"I meant you, Sakura-san. I would like to study from you… if you'll let me," Hinata said shyly, bowing deeply.
The idea was so absurd to her that she nearly burst into laughter. "Me? Teach you? Hinata… I'm still learning myself."
"You are," Hinata said, smiling. "But you're also the strongest kunoichi in the village. Even Tsunade-sama says so. You're a skilled medic and great in taijutsu and now you're mastering Wood release… I'm sure there is much I can learn from you."
Sakura blinked. "You're serious."
"Absolutely."
"Well… I don't know how much I can teach you, but if you're willing, we can spar together a few times and see how it goes?" Sakura offered.
"Oh yes, that would be good," Hinata said, grabbing Sakura's hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Sakura smiled.
Truthfully, Sakura thought there was very little she could teach Hinata. Some medical jutsu, some help with speed and evasion during taijutsu, which would be all. But Hinata had summoned all her courage and asked Sakura for help. It instantly transported her back through time, to the day she stood before Tsunade as a 13-year old genin and begged for the Fifth to take her on as her apprentice, because she didn't want to be left behind anymore. Who was she to refuse such a request?
They ate in relative silence, Sakura asking about Kiba, Akamaru and Shino and how far along Kurenai was. Hinata spoke in a soft, hushed tone, as she described how fast Kurenai's belly was growing and that despite having lost Asuma, Kurenai was trying to stay positive, even having come up with a name for their child already. She laughed at stories regarding Kiba and Akamaru going training in the forests, accidentally spraying all over Shino and a new nest of beetles he had been carefully cultivating.
"How are you and…" Hinata looked around and leaned forward, mouthing 'Kakashi-sensei?'
"Can I ask you something? Honestly?"
"Of course," Hinata sat back, surprised.
"How did you know you were in love with Naruto?"
Abruptly turning the deepest shade of red, Hinata set down her chopsticks and stared at her plate. "I'm not sure… It's just always been like that. I always used to give up and cry and I made many wrong turns. At first I thought Naruto-kun was just like me. But watching Naruto-kun failing over and over and continue to stand up after his failures…" Hinata smiled softly. "When I was younger, I admired him for his resilience. When I grew older, I began to see how kind his smiles were and how he would move heaven and earth for his friends."
"Plus, he's easy to look at?" Sakura said coyly when Hinata trailed off. The Hyuuga's blush deepened further as she nodded fiercely. "What does that feel like?"
Hinata remained quiet as she considered the question. "Warm. Whenever I see him, I feel warm. But not in a normal way. It's intense, overwhelming and consuming. When I'm around him, I feel peaceful, but also confident and empowered, like I can share anything with him." Hinata buried her face in her hands. "I wonder if he feels the same around me."
Sakura leaned her cheek in her hand. "That sounds intense…"
"Do you feel the same with— you-know?" Hinata asked.
She thought long and hard about it. The truth it, some of the things Hinata said definitely applied to Kakashi. But as she went over it again, Sakura realized there was another person that ticked all of the boxes. Even simply thinking about him caused her heart to skip a beat. "Not with… you-know." Sakura stopped, staring at Hinata as she wondered whether she could admit to this. "But… I feel the same for someone else."
"Itachi-san?" Hinata whispered over the table.
"I can't be this easy to read," Sakura groaned.
Hinata giggled softly. "Tell me about him?"
She looked around her, confirming there was nobody in the little shop she knew. "I… I've been spending a lot of time with him because we're training together. He's smart and philosophical and thoughtful and—"
"Easy to look at?" Hinata said, biting her lip in excitement.
"Yes," Sakura emphasized. "And that's what has me worried. I'm afraid I'm just attracted to him and it's just a fling. And well, so is he so he's trying to give me some time."
Hinata promptly fumbled her chopsticks and stared at her, wide-eyed. "Have you spoken to him about it?"
"Yes?" Sakura said.
"Wow," Hinata replied, collecting the rice she had spilled over the table in her hand. "How did that happen… if I may ask?"
She fidgeted under the table, thinking back on the first time they had been open about their attraction to one another. He had told her he couldn't be selfish with her and she had replied by going to his house in the middle of the night and asked him to be selfish with her. "There… was a training session. I was attracted to him for a long time before that and suspected he felt the same. We started talking about it after that."
"After what?" Hinata asked, her cheeks red.
"After we kissed," she said in a breathless whisper.
Hinata's eyes grew so wide Sakura was almost afraid that she'd faint. "He knows I have a crush on Kakashi. And he told me he wanted to give me time to figure out what it is I want."
"Or who," Hinata said, fiddling her fingers together. "And that's what you're doing right now."
"Yes."
Hinata waited patiently, causing Sakura to take in a deep breath. "When we chased after the two Akatsuki members, I helped Kakashi, healed him and took him back to Konoha. Normally, I'm a mess whenever I'm near him, though I'm always careful not to show… But this time, it was just Kakashi. Still handsome, still smelling amazing and well, Kakashi, but—"
The smile that had been playing around Hinata's lips grew wider.
"I asked Itachi if he had ever been in love and if he knew what it felt like. He said that he hadn't, but that 'love comes from accepting someone as they are and adoring their perfections as well as their imperfections.'"
"And do you?"
Sakura laughed softly. "He's Uchiha Itachi. The man is perfect."
Hinata giggled with her. "Nobody is, not even Itachi-san."
"If he has flaws, I haven't found them yet," Sakura chuckled, before turning serious again. "How should I let him know? That I'm interested in him, you mean?"
Hinata flushed again. "If you kissed, I'm sure he's aware."
'Oh we did much more than just kissing honey,' Inner Sakura said, crossing her legs while smoking a cigarette and wagging her eyebrows. If she would physically be able to silence her inner counterpart, Sakura would do so with glee.
"He's trying to keep his distance," Sakura clarified. "I'm not really sure how I should tell him I don't need any more time."
"So then…?"
Sakura thought of him; of his kind smiles and the selfless way he sacrificed what little free time he had to help her train. The way he always made sure she was comfortable and opened up to her about things he had never even spoken to Sasuke about. She thought of his heated looks and the overwhelming happiness she felt falling asleep in his arms twice now. Of his faith in her as a kunoichi and his attempts at humor and his intense kisses.
Sakura nodded. It was time to leave Kakashi behind—in the end, it had been a lengthy crush, but it would never be reciprocated and the feelings Itachi had managed to stir in her were the most intense she had ever felt before.
"I'm sure you know the best way to let him know," Hinata said wisely.
She felt feverish, as though having made the decision suddenly unleashed all the feelings of excitement and joy she had kept deep inside of her. Part wanted to sprint to his house and see if he was home, but a glance at the clock that hung over the entrance of the restaurant told her it was about time for her to leave. "I need to go, my shift starts soon."
"I'll walk you there," Hinata said.
As they paid for their food and walked onto the main road, Sakura glanced at Hinata. "Hinata? Do you have any dreams for the future?"
The Hyuuga clasped her hands behind her back. "When I was younger, I tried desperately to be a good heiress for the Hyuuga clan. But now that it's been decided Hanabi will take over after my father, I felt lost for a while."
"I can imagine," Sakura said kindly.
"Hanabi will do a much better job at it than I ever will. It's for the best," Hinata said softly, a sadness flashing behind her eyes. Then, Hinata's eyes steeled. "But for now, I'd like to become a jounin. And take on a genin team."
Sakura smiled brightly. "Hinata-sensei has a good ring to it."
Hinata returned the smile. "I think so too."
"How was Kurenai-sensei as a teacher?" Sakura asked, suddenly realizing Kurenai was one of the only female jounin sensei in Konoha.
"Intimidating," Hinata giggled. "At first. She was a great sensei, always stimulated us to do better and to explore our talents. I'm going to miss her." She remained quiet for a moment. "I think Team 8 was a good team. Kiba-kun is much kinder and gentler than he makes himself out to be, while Shino-kun can be surprisingly thoughtful."
"What will happen to your team now that Kurenai-sensei is on pregnancy leave?"
"We'll be assigned temporary captains. Seeing as none of us have made jounin yet, we're not allowed to go on a mission with just a three-man cell."
Sakura nodded quietly. "Well, let's get you to jounin then," she said, grinning at Hinata. The dark haired woman smiled back happily.
In front of them, the hospital came into view. She stared at the white building, knowing that in two days, she would leave it for one of the hardest and most dangerous missions she had ever gone on. "Hinata," Sakura said, keeping her eyes on the hospital. "I'm going on a mission in two days and I'm not sure when I'll be returning. But when I do, be ready."
Hinata nodded and bowed. "Yes, Sakura-sensei."
HATAKE KAKASHI
"Senpai."
Kakashi looked up to find Tenzou in the door. "Yo," he said, lifting a hand.
"Thought you might need some help."
"Hmm," Kakashi said, averting his eyes to look out the window. He had been cooped up in the corner of the intelligence division for most of the day, reading up on the political climate in Rain and Hanzou of the Salamander, using his Sharingan to memorize the maps of the shinobi capital.
In front of him lay a stack of files on known Akatsuki members and their known spies and the Jinchuuriki that had gone missing. He had just begun poring over Deidara's file.
He signaled to a chair. "If you insist. There are some files that need to be read."
"I thought as much," Tenzou said as he grabbed the chair and sat across from Kakashi.
They sat in silence as they read through the files.
Kakashi was no fool though; Tenzou hadn't come over to help him read through the files. The younger man was one of the few shinobi in the village that really knew him, alongside Gai, Genma and Team 7. Tenzou was very much aware he was bothered and sat with him in case he wanted to talk. Part of him balked at the treatment, but another, much larger part of him these days, was happy for the companionship.
It wasn't until the sun had set and night had enveloped Konoha that Tenzou spoke.
The younger jounin stretched in his chair and folded his hands together. "Let's get something to eat, my treat."
"I don't need to be babysat," Kakashi said, turning over a page in the file of Orochimaru. He had hoped to find some clues who Akatsuki's mysterious leader was and how it came to be that one of the shinobi he most revered in life hadn't been able to return home to Konoha. He had thought Jiraiya invincible.
He really should know better by now.
"Nobody is babysitting you, senpai. But I'm hungry and you've been at it for hours," Tenzou said calmly. Kakashi looked up to find him leaning back in his chair, arms and legs crossed as he stared at Kakashi with that look. He knew it well.
Sighing, Kakashi stood from his chair, snapping closed the file on Orochimaru and walked outside, knowing Tenzou would follow. "Yakiniku. Oh, and I seem to have forgotten my wallet…"
"I already offered to pay for you," Tenzou said sulkily.
They traversed the main road in silence as Kakashi led them to his favorite restaurant. With a slight pang, he realized the last time he had yakiniku there, it was when Asuma finally came clean about seeing Kurenai. He had lit up a cigarette and blushed as he told Kakashi about the fact that he had asked Kurenai out and she had smacked him over the head, asking why on earth it had taken him a decade to ask.
He pocketed his hands, listening to the sounds of bars opening all around them for the evening crowd. A familiar scent piqued his sensitive nose then. As he looked around, Kakashi easily spotted his pink-haired team member, conversing happily with an elderly lady who seemed to be selling dango.
Kakashi couldn't help but smile behind his mask. Sakura looked happier these days. It looked like she finally gotten over her crush on him and moved on.
"Should we invite Sakura?" Tenzou mused beside him, evidently having spotted her also.
"It looks like she has plans," Kakashi said, noticing the direction in which Sakura was heading.
Tenzou nodded, stepping inside as they reached the restaurant. Kakashi always liked this place; he had gotten used to eating his food with the speed of light, mainly to screw with Sasuke and Naruto, and to visit obscure restaurants only if he didn't know where his former student were going to be. Now that he had finally revealed his face to his team, Kakashi could visit the restaurants he wanted with a sense of peace.
Faintly he wondered whether he should have drawn out the reveal a little longer.
"Yakiniku for two," Tenzou ordered as they sat. "And two beers."
As the beers arrived, Kakashi lowered his mask and flashed a grateful smile as Tenzou poured his drink. "To friends," Tenzou spoke softly, lifting his glass.
"Friends," Kakashi spoke, and in his mind's eye, he thought of Asuma's proud look as he told Kakashi he was going to be a father, and Jiraiya as he silently confessed his feelings for the Fifth just before making his way to Rain.
UCHIHA ITACHI
The world was gilded a pale gold by the early dawn sunlight as Itachi woke and peered out of his window. Against his abdomen, his penis throbbed painfully. Sleep had not come easily to him this night; he was haunted by a certain pink-haired woman. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but she had begun to consume his dreams in addition to his every waking thought.
Even now, there was a part of him that longed to visit her, to see that shy smile on her face whenever she saw him, to feel her soft lips against his and her body pressed up to him. Itachi laughed humorlessly at himself, pressing a palm against his forehead.
There was something about her that caused him to be honest and open with her. Every prying question she asked about his life, he would answer. Every philosophical query, he would think on it and discuss with her. The last time he had been so frank with someone had been nearly a decade ago. But Sakura had managed to bring out something in him that even Shisui hadn't been able to.
If he closed his eyes, Itachi could still see her in his mind's eye, riding herself to completion while he worshipped her body with his fingers and mouth. His cock twitched against him, begging for release, but he wasn't willing to indulge. He had done so enough over the last weeks, enough to know that it wouldn't be enough to sate him.
He wouldn't be sated until he pushed into her tight, wet center, watching her forest green eyes cloud over with pleasure as he made love—
Itachi stopped himself, frowning.
Promptly, he stood from his bed and walked into the shower, turning the water to ice cold. He hissed as he stepped underneath the stream, quickly washing his hair and body. As he toweled himself off, Itachi looked into the mirror, picking up a brush to slowly untangle his hair. It was about time to have it cut again.
He dressed and walked into his kitchen, unsure what to do with the time given to him. There was one day left until he was to meet Kakashi and the rest of the assassination team at the village gates. There was a strange calm that usually settled over him in the face of S-Rank missions, knowing that there was always the slight possibility he would not be returning.
Now, however, there was a small part of him that was nervous. Faintly, he wondered how Sasuke was doing on his mission. His little brother had been up against Akatsuki before and handled it admirably. There was no doubt in his mind that he would return safely. He had Naruto-kun with him after all. The two of them would keep each other safe.
As he opened his refrigeration unit, Itachi spotted a bowl of leftover soup and some eggs to his right. He smiled as he remembered Sakura's offer. Though he unfortunately didn't have the time to take her up on it, he appreciated it nonetheless. The idea of the two of them working over a stove together warmed him deeply. 'She's not wrong. I am domestic,' he thought with a shake of his head, taking out the soup.
He tipped the contents of the bowl into a pan and turned on his stove, slowly stirring through the broth until it was warm. He sat at the counter with his soup, slowly bringing a spoonful to his mouth as he considered the momentous mission ahead of them. If they were successful, at the very least they could destabilize Akatsuki and cease their momentum.
His thoughts drifted back to the man in the orange mask. How coincidental that he showed up when Sasuke and Sakura were chasing after another Akatsuki member. Not for the first time did he curse himself for chasing a lead that took him and his squad to the other side of the Fire Country. The frenzy in which they had turned around and made their way to Kakashi and the rest of Team 10 and later Team 7 had been intense.
Sighing, he finished his bowl and cleaned it, leaving it to dry in the rack beside the sink. Itachi stepped into his shoes and opened up the door only to find a neat package lying in front of his doorstep. With a frown, he reached for it and found a small note attached.
'I know you care little for sweets, but I have a distinct feeling you will enjoy these.—S.'
Befuddled, Itachi stepped back inside, carrying the package as though it contained something extremely fragile as he set it down on the counter and carefully unpacked it. Inside, he found a box covered with a furoshiki. He took a moment to admire the beautiful design of the wrapping cloth before unfurling the knot and opening the box.
Inside were some of the most delectable dango he had ever seen. The sheen on the three colors was enticing, the immaculate precision with which they had been made aesthetically pleasing and the gentle scent of rose and matcha that wafted into his direction after opening the box had his mouth watering.
With care, Itachi lifted one of the sticks from the box, admiring the dango in the early morning light. A smile broke out on his face and he hung his head as a foolish grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, imagining Sakura sneaking up to the house only to leave this gift for him. Biting his lip, Itachi tried to ignore the way his heart skipped a beat as he thought of her and then took the first dango into his mouth.
By the time he got to the second ball, Itachi was half-way through the door before remembering that she would be working a shift at the hospital. And that he was going to give her time to consider her feelings. Forcing himself to calm down, Itachi decided to go to the administration building, knowing Kakashi and Yamato would probably be there in preparation for the mission.
"Well, seems like our party is almost complete," Yamato said, looking up from one of the files he was pouring over. Kakashi lifted a hand in greeting and nonchalantly grabbed a chair for him to sit on.
"Kakashi-san, Yamato-senpai," Itachi greeted, sitting in between the two desks that Yamato and Kakashi currently occupied.
"What do you want to read first? Politics in Rain, possible suspects for the Akatsuki leader or Akatsuki files?" Yamato asked helpfully.
"Politics in Rain," Itachi said, accepting a thick folder as Kakashi handed it to him. The silver-haired man looked at him before flashing a crinkly eyed smile.
"Excellent choice," Kakashi said.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a long time as Itachi read through the files, Sharingan darting over statistics, witness reports, shinobi reports and theories regarding Akatsuki, all gathered by their intelligence division. Every now and then, one of them stood to stretch their limbs, looking out the window at the beautiful winter day.
Shortly after three, Itachi had read and committed all files to memory and leaned against the window frame, noticing the hospital building not too far away. "What do you think, Kakashi-san?" he asked, ceasing the flow of chakra to his eyes.
"Hmm," Kakashi said, as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, looking up at the ceiling. "We should proceed with extreme caution. Most of the information we have regarding Rain stems from the last time Konoha shinobi were allowed in the isolated nation." He pushed one of the folders aside, opening the one that contained the file on Hanzou of the Salamander. "Hanzou hasn't been seen in close to a decade. Even for a recluse, that seems extreme for the leader of a country."
"Agreed," Itachi said as Yamato nodded.
"We received notifications that Akatsuki had overthrown Rain only months ago, but it could just as well have been a ruse. Considering the length of communications black-out and the fact that most of the information that had previously trickled out was useless, I'd say Akatsuki has been in Rain for a long time."
"Which means we'll be walking into a stronghold," Itachi said.
"And makes this mission a whole lot more difficult," Yamato frowned. "A nation in unrest, it'll be easy to slip in and assassinate someone. A land and hidden village that are united will be that much harder to infiltrate."
"Correct," Kakashi said, pointing at Yamato with a flourish. "Which means we'll need backstories."
"On it," Yamato said.
"Traveling as a four-man platoon will draw attention. Shinobi are still not welcomed in the country, let alone in the capital."
"We should gather intelligence in two teams," Itachi nodded, crossing his arms. "Yamato-senpai's tracking techniques will come in handy there. We can remain in touch with the other team at all time."
Yamato crossed his hands. "Might I add that I can teach Sakura the same technique now, making our communication a lot easier between teams."
Kakashi nodded. "I'll think on the teams. Then there's the matter of eliminating the leader."
"At this time, I'm prepared for anything," Yamato sighed. "The files, though helpful, contain very little information. Open up your Bingo Book and lay your finger down on any random page. It could be any one of them."
"It'll be a native to Rain," Itachi said softly, drawing the attention of both men. He glanced at them. "Rain is a rugged and intense country, plagued by several civil wars and famine since the end of the last Great Shinobi War. It is one of the hardest places in this world to live and harder still to build a base from there unless you're intimately familiar with both the sociopolitical background of the country as well as the current economic climate."
Yamato lifted an eyebrow. "Fair point."
"I think you're right," Kakashi said, leaning his chin in his hand as he rifled through the files. "The first occurrences of Akatsuki being hired as mercenaries all happened in Waterfall, Rock and Grass—all neighboring countries."
"So we should prepare for techniques unique to Rain, just in case," Yamato said, standing from his place. "There are scrolls on Rain and its techniques in the ROOT office. I'll go get them."
"Do you have any more theories?" Kakashi asked, keeping his eyes on the files. Itachi looked at him, sighed and walked back to his chair.
"No. I wasn't very familiar with Jiraiya-sama, but I've been thinking on what could have happened. Whoever this leader was, he, or she, will be a tough opponent. Try as we might, I don't think we'll be able to take them off-guard."
Kakashi looked up. "Always the optimist," he said, eyebrow raised, though Itachi could spot the hint of humor in his voice.
"I prefer pragmatist."
Kakashi chuckled quietly, leaning back in his chair. "You truly are brothers."
Itachi couldn't help but smile at that.
Eyeing him from the corner of his eye, Kakashi tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling. "Sasuke will be fine. Naruto too." A pause. "And so will Sakura."
Itachi was careful to keep his face arranged in a calm expression. "Of course."
Kakashi sat up straight, leaning over the table. "Thank you, Itachi."
"Kakashi-san?" Itachi asked, surprised.
"Sakura."
Itachi remained silent.
"Well," Kakashi said as he stood from his chair, stretching his long limbs. "I think it's time for me to go home. Tell Tenzou I'd like to be informed tomorrow morning if he finds anything interesting." He turned to leave but stopped in the doorway. "Oh and Itachi, do me a favor?"
"Of course," Itachi said, looking at the older man.
"Brief Sakura for me on this information, will you? She'll be done with her shift around seven." With that, he lifted a hand in greeting and disappeared from the room in a flurry of leaves.
Bemused, Itachi stared at the spot Kakashi had disappeared from for a long moment before gathering all the files, waiting for Yamato to return.
He spotted her long before she saw him.
Obviously tired from her shift, Sakura trundled toward her apartment building, hands in her pockets, eyes to the sky. Her pink hair had been pulled up in a messy bun, several loose strands framing her beautiful face. In the light of the moon, her eyes were almost luminescent.
Itachi sat on the stairs that led to her house, elbows on his knees as he observed her a moment longer. A small smile played around her lips and he found himself wondering what exactly she was thinking of. He stood from his place, catching her attention.
For a moment, she stood still as she looked at him, obviously surprised to see him. Then, a large smile formed on her lips as she quickened her pace to him. Deep inside of him, his heart skipped a beat seeing the obvious happiness on her face seeing him.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked breathlessly as she reached him.
"I received your gift," he managed to say, before stepping forward to take her into his arms. She made a happy sound that was cut off as he seized her lips with his, reveling in the scent of her. He deepened the kiss, unable to stop the groan that escaped his lips as she opened her mouth, swirling her tongue in sensual strokes against his. He released her hair from her bun, running his hands through her hair.
He broke the kiss, running his lips and tongue over her jawline to her ear, sucking on the pulse point on her neck. She moaned in his ear, causing a rush of blood to go directly to his groin. "You look beautiful," Itachi whispered to her, drawing back to see her reaction. She smiled shyly at him, green eyes looking back and forth between his as she bit her lower lip.
"You're not so bad yourself, Itachi," she replied, purposefully repeating what she had said only a few weeks earlier. He smiled against her lips as she leaned in closer for another kiss, cupping her face between his hands. When they finally separated to catch their breath, Sakura took his hand into hers and led him up the staircase to the green door that belonged to her.
It wasn't until she turned the key in the lock that she swore softly under her breath. He raised an eyebrow as she lifted her gaze to his, somehow looking both disappointed and peeved. "I'm supposed to meet up with some friends."
Itachi felt the corners of his mouth quirk upwards. "I came over to brief you for tomorrow."
"Oh," Sakura said, blushing heavily as she opened her door and stepped inside. A smirk fought its way onto his lips and he was careful to hide it from her. The fact that she was so ready to take the next step with him was both flattering and enticing and one he would gladly take her up on, but only when she was ready.
Deep inside however, Itachi was well-aware his self-imposed rule was more for her benefit than his. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone in his life, but simultaneously he realized that despite his wants and needs, he still wasn't able to provide her with what she needed. No matter how open he was with her, how easily the truth came when she confronted him and how peaceful he felt around her, there were still parts of him that he could never fully share with her.
And she deserved more than that. She deserved a man who would be by her side without doubts or scruples, who would share himself with her as she shared herself with him.
Still, as he watched her battle with her boots to take them off, biting on her bottom lip as she steadied herself, he couldn't deny that there was a large part of him that was beyond stopping himself. The thought both excited and terrified him at the same time as he kneeled down to help her out of her boot. She looked down at him with a bashful smile, eyes darkening as he tenderly ran his fingertips from her ankles to her calves to her thighs.
"Tea?" Sakura asked him, voice husky. He pretended not to notice.
"Please."
Itachi watched her as she set to work in the kitchen, noting with humor how completely different she worked from him. His father had always been extremely particular about his tea, causing Mikoto to work with a precision when brewing that he had inherited from her after watching her in the kitchen throughout the years. Sakura made another selection of tea bags and filled the cups with boiling water, handing one over to him. He accepted it gratefully and followed her as she walked to her couch.
"How was your day?" he asked, easing himself down. He liked her pink sofa—it smelled like her and was very comfortable.
Sakura sighed as she opened up a tea bag and hung it in the water. "Let's see… Six poison victims from an unknown plant. We're sending out a squad to collect some samples and create an antidote. One shinobi who had managed to impale his foot with a kunai during practice and another shinobi who had lost his eye during a mission." She shuddered visibly at the memory of the last one. "Just another day at Konoha Hospital."
"I wasn't aware you were an expert on poison," Itachi said, frowning.
"That's because you didn't read my file," Sakura said, eyes sparking with humor as she brought the cup to her lips.
"That's not exactly right," Itachi corrected. "I read your file. Just not the outline of your skills in battle. It didn't mention anything about poison."
Sakura took a sip. "I'm not an expert, Shizune-san is much better than I am. But I know my way around most poisons and know how to concoct an antidote, even for poisons I've never seen before." She shrugged as she took another sip.
"Concocting an antidote for a poison you've never seen before is admirable, Sakura."
She looked up at him through her lashes with a shy smile. "Thank you," she said, holding his gaze for a long moment. "You were here for a briefing?"
He nodded. "The three of us have gone over the files. In short, we've currently theorized that Akatsuki has taken over Rain for a much longer time. We're operating under the assumption that Rain and its capital city have become a stronghold for Akatsuki." He continued explaining the political situation before moving onto special techniques often used in Rain and Yamato's plan to teach her how to use his special communication techniques.
Sakura sat watching him in silence, taking a sip every now and then. He could almost see the wheels turning behind her intelligent eyes as she took in all the information he had for her like a sponge, interrupting him every now and then to ask a question.
"Any other questions?" he asked finally.
"No, all clear," Sakura said.
He finished his tea and flashed a quick smile. "That will be all. I'll leave you for the night."
Though she tried to school her features into a smile, Itachi didn't miss the acute disappointment that flashed behind her eyes. "I'll walk you out," she offered, standing from her place. He led the way back to the entrance, slipped into his shoes and turned around.
She watched him with a shy smile, eyes meeting his for a quick moment before she averted them once again, arms clasped behind her back. He cocked his head, not knowing what caused the change in her disposition. He was about to ask her when she turned her gaze to the front door, groaning softly. "My friend is here."
"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Itachi said, cupping her cheek briefly. She leaned into his hand. The feel of her lips nuzzling the palm of his hand caused a shiver to pass over his spine.
"Until tomorrow," Sakura whispered.
He teleported from her house just as someone landed at the front door and sang Sakura's name teasingly in a high, female voice.
A/N: Happy Holidays dear readers. Here is my Christmas present to you! Thank you all for fueling my passion and love for writing with your amazing reviews and comments. You have no idea how much they mean to me!
See you next year!
- Mitsuki